Tooling and Method for Drawing and Flanging a Prototype Part

ABSTRACT

A prototype part drawing/flanging tool is provided that are arranged in a draw die set-up and a flange die set-up. The draw die set-up includes a binder ring, a pad; a flange forming ring, and a punch. The flange die set-up includes the flanging ring, the pad, and the punch. The draw die set draws a blank and the flange die set forms a flange on the blank in two separate operations using the same die parts in the two operations. A method is disclosed for making a formed and flanged part that begins by drawing a blank held by a pad, a flanging ring and a binder ring against a punch in a press to form a drawn blank. The drawn blank is then laser trimmed to form a trimmed/drawn blank. The trimmed/drawn blank is then clamped between the pad and the punch while the flange forming ring forms a flange into a flange forming groove.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to drawing and flanging prototype parts.

BACKGROUND

Prototype parts are made to facilitate confirmation of part designs formanufacturing and testing. The cost of prototype tooling is asubstantial portion of the cost of developing new vehicles. One of theproblems addressed by this disclosure is reducing the cost of prototypetooling.

A stretch draw die set is used to draw a small number of prototypepanels to a desired shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the stretch draw die setincludes three die parts—a cavity die “C”; a binder “B”; and a punch“P.” After a part is drawn it is trimmed and then flanged in a directflange die set. As shown in FIG. 2, the direct flange die set includesthree die parts—a flange post “FPT”; a flange steel “FS”; and a flangepad “FPD.”

The die sets may be made from Kirksite™ a moderate strength zinc-basealloy that is easily cast to make lower cost prototype dies. However,even with the use of lower cost Kirksite™ dies, the cost of each diepart adds to the cost of the tooling required to make prototype parts.

This disclosure is directed to the above problems and other problems assummarized below.

SUMMARY

According to one aspect of this disclosure, a prototype drawing/flangingtool is provided that includes a draw die set-up and a flange die set-upthat share parts of the two respective die set-ups. The draw die set-upincludes a binder ring, a pad; a flanging ring, and a punch. The flangedie set-up includes the flanging ring, the pad, and the punch. The drawdie set draws a blank and the flange die set forms a flange on the blankin two separate operations that may both be set up in the same prototypetry-out press.

The pad and the flanging ring may be attached to a press in a fixedrelationship when used in the draw die set-up. In the flange die set-up,the pad and the flanging ring may be attached to a press with the padbeing backed by a cushion to clamp the blank against the punch while theflanging ring moves relative to the punch and pad to form the flange.

In the flange die set-up, the binder ring cooperates with the pad andthe flanging ring to clamp the blank as the blank is drawn over thepunch with the binder ring is spaced from the flanging ring.

The pad and the flanging ring may include a first draw bead element onthe flanging ring and the binder ring may include a second draw beadelement. The first draw bead element and the second draw bead elementfunction together to retain the blank in the draw die set-up during thedrawing step. The first draw bead element and the second draw beadelement do not contact the blank in the flange die set-up.

The punch defines a flanging groove and the pad clamps the blank againstthe punch while the flange forming ring forms the flange into theflanging groove.

The pad and the flanging ring are attached to a press with fixed risersin the draw die set-up and the pad is supported by a cushion and theflanging ring is attached with fixed risers in the flange die set-up.

According to another aspect of this disclosure, a method is disclosedfor making a formed/flanged part. The method begins by drawing a blankheld by a pad, a flanging ring and a binder ring against a punch in apress to form a drawn blank. The drawn blank is then trimmed to form atrimmed/drawn blank. The trimmed/drawn blank is then flanged by clampedbetween the pad and the punch that defines a groove, with a flangeforming ring forming a flange into the groove.

According to other aspects of this disclosure as it relates to themethod, the pad and flanging ring are fixedly retained in the press, anda periphery of the blank is clamped against the binder ring while theblank is drawn over the punch. The blank bridges the groove while theblank is drawn over the punch.

The pad and the flanging ring may be retained in the press with theflanging ring being movable relative to the pad while the pad clamps thetrimmed/drawn blank against the punch, as the flange forming ring flangeforms into the flange into the groove.

The binder ring may be retained in a position spaced from the flangingring while the flange forming ring forms the flange in the groove. Thepad may be backed by a cushion while the flange forming ring forms theflange into the groove.

The method may further comprise removing the drawn blank from the pressbefore trimming the drawn blank and returning the trimmed/drawn blank tothe press. The step of trimming the drawn blank is performed by a lasercutter.

The above aspects of this disclosure and other aspects will be describedin greater detail below with reference to the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of three parts of a prior art draw die forforming prototype drawn parts.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of three parts of a prior art flange diefor forming prototype drawn and flanged parts.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of four parts of a drawing/flanging toolmade according to this disclosure for forming prototype drawn andflanged parts.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary cross-section view of the drawing/flanging toolmade according to this disclosure prior to performing the drawingoperation with a drawn panel shown in phantom.

FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of a laser trimming operationperformed after the drawing operation but before the flanging operation.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary cross-section view of the drawing/flanging toolmade according to this disclosure prior to performing the flangingoperation with a drawn/trimmed panel shown before flanging.

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a press with thedrawing/flanging tool disposed in the press with a blank shown prior tothe drawing operation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The illustrated embodiments are disclosed with reference to thedrawings. However, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodimentsare intended to be merely examples that may be embodied in various andalternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale and somefeatures may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particularcomponents. The specific structural and functional details disclosed arenot to be interpreted as limiting, but as a representative basis forteaching one skilled in the art how to practice the disclosed concepts.

Referring to FIG. 3, a prototype drawing/flanging tool 10 is illustratedthat includes a binder ring 12, a pad 14, a flanging ring 16, and apunch 18. The four parts of the prototype drawing/flanging tool 10 canbe used instead of the six parts illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 to formand flange a prototype part.

Referring to FIG. 4, the prototype drawing/flanging tool 10 is shownset-up in a draw die set-up 10A. The pad 14 and flanging ring 16 areshown above the binder ring 12 and punch 18 with a blank 20 disposedbetween. The pad 14 and flanging ring 16 are attached to a supportingbolster (not shown in FIG. 3) so that they are fixed relative to eachother. The binder ring 12 is supported on a bolster (not shown in FIG.3) so that the binder ring 12 is movable relative to the punch 18 in thedraw die set-up.

A draw bead 22 is illustrated on the flanging ring 16 that is adapted tobe received in a draw bead groove 24 defined by the binder. The drawbead 22 and draw bead groove 24 may alternatively be provided on thebinder 12 and flanging ring 16. The blank 20 includes a peripheralportion 26 that is captured by the draw bead 22 on the flanging ring andthe draw bead groove on the binder 12 as illustrated. The peripheralportion 26 of the blank is restrained from being pulled into the diecavity by the draw beads so that the blank 20 is stretched and drawninto the drawn shape in the die.

The punch 18 includes a draw forming surface 28 that against which theblank 20 is pulled to draw the blank into the desired drawn shape. Thepad 14 includes a blank engaging surface 30 that contacts the blank 20and moves the blank against the punch 18. A flange forming groove 32 isdefined by the punch 18. A flange forming surface 36 is part of theflange forming groove 32. A flange support 37 is provided outboard ofthe flange forming groove 32 that supports the blank 20 outboard of theflange forming groove 32 during the drawing operation. The blank 20bridges the flange forming groove 32 between the blank engaging surfaceand the flange support 37.

In operation, the prototype drawing/flanging tool 10 in the draw dieset-up 10A is opened and the blank 20 is placed between the ring 12 andthe pad 14 and flanging ring 16 (14 and 16 are fixed relative to eachother) and the punch 18. The pad 14 and flanging ring 16 arereciprocally moved downwardly (as illustrated). The draw bead 22captures the peripheral portion 26 of the blank 20 as the captured blankis drawn over the punch 18. The pad 14 forms the blank 20 only at theend of the drawing operation to stamp the final details in the punch 18.The drawn blank 20′ is shown in phantom lines bridging the flangeforming groove 32 defined by the punch 18.

Referring to FIG. 5, a laser trimming operation is schematicallyillustrated. The drawn blank 20′ is removed from the draw die set-up andplaced on a supporting fixture as a laser cutting tool 38 is used to cutaway the offal from the peripheral portion 26 of the drawn blank 20′ toform the trimmed/drawn blank 20″. The trimmed/drawn blank 20″ may thenbe returned to the press that has been converted to the flange dieset-up.

Referring to FIG. 6, the prototype drawing/flanging tool 10 in theflange die set-up 10B is opened and the trimmed/drawn blank 20″ isplaced between the pad 14 and the punch 18 with a small portion of theperipheral portion of the blank extending over the flange forming groove32. The pad 14 and flanging ring 16 are moved together until the pad 16clamps the trimmed drawn blank 20″ against the punch 18. The pad 14 issupported on a cushioning pad or cushion cylinders that allow theflanging ring 16 to continue to move toward the punch 18. The flangingring 16 bends the small portion of the peripheral portion 26 of thetrimmed/drawn blank 20″ to form the flange 39 shown in phantom lines inFIG. 6 against the flange forming surface 36.

Referring to FIG. 7, a press 40 is illustrated that includes a press rambolster 42 and a press base bolster 44. The pad 14 and the flanging ring16 are supported on the press ram bolster 42 by a plurality of risersand a plurality of cushion cylinders 50. In the flange die set-up 10B,the pad is supported on the cushion cylinders 50 that allow the pad 14to clamp the trimmed/drawn blank 20″ against the punch 18 while theflanging ring 16 forms the flange against the flange forming surface ofthe punch 18. The punch 18 is fixed relative to the press base bolster44 either directly or on risers.

The binder ring 12 and punch are supported on the press base bolster 44.The binder ring is movably supported on binder cushion cylinders 52 thatallow the binder ring to move with the flanging ring 16 in the draw dieset-up 10A (as shown in FIG. 4).

The embodiments described above are specific examples that do notdescribe all possible forms of the disclosure. The features of theillustrated embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments ofthe disclosed concepts. The words used in the specification are words ofdescription rather than limitation. The scope of the following claims isbroader than the specifically disclosed embodiments and also includesmodifications of the illustrated embodiments.

What is claimed is:
 1. A prototype drawing/flanging tool comprising: adraw die set-up including a binder ring, a pad; a flanging ring, and apunch; and a flange die set-up including the flanging ring, the pad, andthe punch, wherein the draw die set draws a blank and the flange die setforms a flange on the blank.
 2. The prototype drawing/flanging tool ofclaim 1 wherein the pad and the flanging ring are attached to a press ina fixed relationship when used in the draw die set-up.
 3. The prototypedrawing/flanging tool of claim 1 wherein the pad and the flanging ringare attached to a press with the pad being backed by a cushion to clampthe blank against the punch while the flanging ring moves relative tothe punch and pad to form the flange.
 4. The prototype drawing/flangingtool of claim 1 wherein the binder ring cooperates with the pad and theflanging ring to clamp the blank as the blank is drawn over the punch,and wherein the binder ring is spaced from the flanging ring in theflange die set-up.
 5. The prototype drawing/flanging tool of claim 1wherein the pad and the flanging ring includes a first draw bead elementon the flanging ring and the binder ring includes a second draw beadelement, wherein the first draw bead element and the second draw beadelement retain the blank in the draw die set-up.
 6. The prototypedrawing/flanging tool of claim 5 wherein the first draw bead element andthe second draw bead element do not contact the blank in the flange dieset.
 7. The prototype drawing/flanging tool of claim 1 wherein the punchdefines a flanging groove, and wherein the pad clamps the blank againstthe punch while the flange forming ring forms the flange into theflanging groove.
 8. The prototype drawing/flanging tool of claim 7wherein the pad and the flanging ring are attached to a press with fixedrisers in the draw die set-up and wherein the pad is supported by acushion and the flanging ring is attached with fixed risers in theflange die set-up.
 9. A method of making a formed/flanged partcomprising: drawing a blank held by a pad, a flanging ring and a binderring against a punch in a press to form a drawn blank; trimming thedrawn blank to form a trimmed/drawn blank; and flanging thetrimmed/drawn blank clamped between the pad and the punch that defines agroove, with a flange forming ring forming a flange into the groove. 10.The method of claim 9 wherein the pad and flanging ring are fixedlyretained in the press, and wherein a periphery of the blank is clampedagainst the binder ring while the blank is drawn over the punch.
 11. Themethod of claim 10 wherein the blank bridges the groove while the blankis drawn over the punch.
 12. The method of claim 9 wherein the pad andthe flanging ring are retained in the press with the flanging ring beingmovable relative to the pad while the pad clamps the trimmed/drawn blankagainst the punch, wherein the flange forming ring flange forms into theflange into the groove.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the binderring is retained in a position spaced from the flanging ring while theflange forming ring forms the flange in the groove.
 14. The method ofclaim 9 wherein the pad is backed by a cushion while the flange formingring forms the flange into the groove.
 15. The method of claim 9 furthercomprising: removing the drawn blank from the press before trimming thedrawn blank; and returning the trimmed/drawn blank to the press.
 16. Themethod of claim 9 wherein the step of trimming the drawn blank isperformed by a laser cutter.
 17. A method of making a drawn and flangedprototype part comprising: setting a draw die set in a press; drawing ablank held by a pad and a flanging ring and binder ring against a punchin the draw die set to form a drawn blank; laser trimming the drawnblank to form a trimmed/drawn blank; setting a flange die set in thepress; and flanging the trimmed/drawn blank by moving a flange formingring relative to the pad with the blank being clamped between the padand the punch that defines a flange forming groove, wherein the flangeforming ring forms the flange into the flange forming groove.
 18. Themethod of claim 17 wherein the pad and flanging ring are fixedlyretained in the press, and wherein a periphery of the blank is clampedagainst the binder ring while the blank is drawn over the punch.
 19. Themethod of claim 18 wherein the blank bridges the flange forming groovewhile the blank is drawn over the punch.
 20. The method of claim 17wherein the pad and the flanging ring are retained in the press with theflanging ring being movable relative to the pad while the pad clamps thetrimmed/drawn blank against the punch, wherein the flange forming ringflange forms into the flange forming groove.